first movement; overture [ video ]

[hypnosymphony]

[ The room is dark - well, dimly lit. Someone appears to have taken pains to shut as much light out as possible without actually moving anything, but it doesn't do that much.

The person responsible for the broadcast moves into the view of the camera, seemingly unaware of it. Their face can't be made out - not that it could anyway, as they're not facing the camera.

There's enough light to discern that this person is wearing a black, slightly ragged suit, contrasting nicely with shoulder-length white hair. There's the rustle of cloth, the soft plink of a string, and a violin briefly comes into view as they raise the instrument to their shoulder, bow in the other hand.

A slightly shaky breath, and then they put bow to string, pausing for a brief moment.

And then the violin sings. This performance goes on for quite a while.

What may be impressive is that the whole thing is played perfectly; no hesitation or stumbling. When the person is finished, they lower the violin, and the broadcast ends.

The name attached to the broadcast may be familiar to some people. ]

Comments

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[hypnosymphony]

Of course. [ he kind of smiles ] Then you are fortunate. I hope you don't have to experience it. [ it's kind of funny if you think about evan's death threats....

he waves a hand, looking mildly embarrassed. ] I was in semi-retirement, after all. And it's not as if people outside Keystone remember it was moved out of time.

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[snidepiper]

Everybody's got to experience it sooner or later. [what an uplifting comment. A guilty beat.] Sorry.

I'm sure there was news footage. [for a normally semi-perceptive dude Piper is missing all the modest signals here] And anyway, people in the City can find out what they were missing, now. Once you feel better.

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[hypnosymphony]

Later rather than sooner for you, I'd hope. [ WAVES HAND no big deal he can roll with it ] No need to apologise.

[ oh, piper. he can't even deal with this mild hero-worshipping.... ] I suppose there was. [ he can't really remember since he got dumped in jail and everything...how does he even. ] Mm. That's certainly an option.

[snidepiper]

That depends if Evan gets his way. [a little smile at how calm that was] Okay.

An option? What are the others?

[hypnosymphony]

[ what. he kind of frowns at that ] What happened?

Oh, nothing much. I suppose I could do some performing. [ it's obviously not an option that he really prefers, though. ] I haven't got too many plans at the moment.

[snidepiper]

[a pause. Isaac reminds him of his own dad, a little--if he'd been loving and attentive and patient, instead of distant and short and wrapped up in his own problems. It's tempting, to start thinking of him that way, but hardly fair on him.] It's a long story. I don't want to bore you, not when you're ...I mean, you have your own problems.

If you need a job, I ...I'd be honored to ask you to work for me.

[hypnosymphony]

[ It says something about Isaac's nature that he'd gladly accept the burden, if he even thought of it that way. ] I have plenty of time to spare, since I am currently an invalid. Humor me, at the very least.

[ Another little smile. ] That's certainly kind of you. I think I'll take you up on the offer, when I feel better.

[snidepiper]

[a flicker of a strange, unidentifiable expression on his face, then] He killed my parents.

[he tosses his hair back, out of his face, trying to focus for a second] Really?

[hypnosymphony]

[ oh.

wow that sure is a lot of anger there. just straight up fury for a minute because targeting family is kind of too far and then he settles, still somewhat tense. ] I'm sorry you had to go through that. [ what else can he say, really? there's not really anything to be done now. ]

Of course. I get to work with what I love most, after all, and I highly doubt anyone else would want to hire me in such capacity.

[snidepiper]

[it was a very terse and abbreviated version of the story, but given that Isaac said he wanted to hear it, and that Piper wasn't sure how exactly to explain it. He was way close to the whole thing.] It's okay. ...thank you.

[he chuckles] I don't want to dissuade you from working for me, but your slate here should be clean.

[hypnosymphony]

[ he kind of wants to hug you or something but he refrains from it. it's best not to assume, after all. ] It's all right.

Nobody should have to experience that. [ he hadn't lost his parents, exactly, but he's experienced that kind of loss, of someone close to him. ]

[ waves a hand! no big deal ] I think I would prefer to work with people I know. It's more comforting, to be honest.

[snidepiper]

[he winces. Particularly no one should have to experience doing it. He doesn't actually answer, mostly because he's struggling to figure out what he can say without causing his voice to break]

I'm just saying. If cops give you pressure or vigilantes or anything, tell me and I will sort it out for you. I promise.

[hypnosymphony]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[ he watches him for a second, struggling with it, then gets up.

you are getting hugged. Pretty tightly. He doesn't say anything. ]

[snidepiper]

I, uh. [He really was not expecting that, and he freezes in the hug, trying to think of some way to deflect it, some joke or something, but he just...slowly raises his arms and hugs back, resting his head on Fiddler and managing to keep from completely breaking down with a lot of willpower. It's just--not--fair on him.]

Mmf. You're getting a terrible first impression of your boss.

[hypnosymphony]

[ oh, good, he didn't misjudge and piper isn't reacting badly. this is a Good Sign. he's just going to keep hugging you then because he really feels you need it. ]

I'd hardly call it a terrible first impression. There's nothing wrong with being comforted, is there?

[snidepiper]

You're the one who just died and got dragged into a new universe. [this with wry quiet, thoughtful observation] And you're okay with it.

[hypnosymphony]

[ he sort of laughs a little. ] Well, being alive is certainly something to be optimistic about, if nothing else. It's an improvement.

And I don't have much to be sad about, after all. It was better than the alternative option.

[snidepiper]

The alternative option?

[he hesitated, and then pulled back gently, breaking the hug.]

[hypnosymphony]

[ when Piper pulls back, he carefully perches himself on a chair again before nausea kicks in. ]

Well, the groups I was forced to choose between did make it quite clear. [ a sigh. ] Both parties threatened my children with mutilation or death as retribution if I didn't join.

I always made sure not to involve them in my more questionable activities. They wouldn't have known a thing, if it had come to that.

[snidepiper]

That's sick. [This charged with emotion. Family should be left out of these things... it's an old rogue code not to kill women or children.]

Who were the groups?

[hypnosymphony]

[ what are rogue codes even THE SOCIETY AND MOCKINGBIRD SURE DON'T HAVE THEM... ] It was unsavoury, yes. [ he sounds kind of tired ]

Well, the Society offered me an invitation first. Upon declining it, I was contacted by another group - the Secret Six. It was quite easy to get me to throw my lot in, as the leader of the latter group also threatened my children.

[ and then he kind of got executed while with the Six HA HA WHOOPS. ]

[snidepiper]

I don't--... [he shook his head] If they show up here, they're in trouble. Even Len will back me on that.

[hypnosymphony]

I'm hoping they wouldn't, really. It would be quite awkward! [ ahaha...haha..ha... sigh. he absently rubs the back of his neck, smile fading. ]

But it's all right, really. It wasn't terribly painful, and I don't have many regrets.

[snidepiper]

Is there anything I can do for you? In the here and now, I mean.

[hypnosymphony]

[ waves a hand! gosh he sure is doing a lot of that... ] Ah, no, no. Don't trouble yourself. I'll be fine.

I appreciate your kindness.